Automatically-threading loom-shuttle.



IME. RHGADES.

AUTOMATIC/n n' THREADIN@ LOOM SHUTTLE PPUCMONILED SEPT. 5, i313* www y ,U z m .f WH Us M 0 Ams z M ma *n im nw y P .da

A. E. RHOADES.

.AUTOMATICALLY THREADING LO0IVI SHUTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. ISIS.

l 9 @85,3 Patened May 4, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WTIESSES n l VENTOR,

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.A'DONZO E. RHOADESLOF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, vASSI(Efr1\lOIR T0 DRAIE'ERl COM- PANY, OF H OPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION'OF ATOMATICALLY-THREADING L0OlllI-SHUTLLE.v y

Application led September 5, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALONZO E. RHoADEs, of Hopedale, in the county of lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatically f Threading Loom Shuttles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to means to prevent the escape of the thread from the eye of an automatically threading shuttle.

IVhile otherwise applicable in some of its characteristics, the invention is particularly directed to a shutt-le having a two part cast metal threader.

In thecase of the one part cast metal threaders such as have heretofore been employed in the well-known Northrop weft replenishi-ng loom, it is impracticable to cast the threader all in one piece and still have it so constructed as to contain sufficient obstructions to the unthreading of the shuttle to insure substantial freedom from this de fect which frequently results in the breakage of the thread. In accordance with the present invention the cast metal threader is made in two pieces which are held closely and interlocked together in place in the shuttle, and the mating faces of these two blocks are provided with thread passages and obstructions` crossing the thread passages so as to effectively 'prevent the accidental unthreading while permitting automatic threading.

The present improvementsare illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein 'Figure l is a plan view `of the eye end of an automatically threading shuttle containing the improvements. Fig. 2 is a vhorizontal section in theplane 'indicated by the line 2 2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical section in the plane indicated by the line Fig-4f. 1s an elevation of the Y mating face of the front threader block.I

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the mating face of the rear threader block. Fig. 6 is an elevation. of the inner end of the two threader blocks when interlocked together. Fig. 7 is a front-view of the `two threa'der blocks -when` locked together. Fig. S is a horizontal .section of the two interlocked blocks in the plane indicated by the line 8 8 in Fig. 6. Fig. 9:1 is ay horizontal section of the two intei-lockedbloclnsinA the plane indicated bv Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Serial No. 788,342.

the line 9 9 in Fig. 9. Fig. 10 is a vertical isection of the two interlocked blocks in the plane indicated by the line 10 l0 in Fig. l.

To'facilitate description, the eye side of the shuttle will be called the front side; the opposite side of the 'shuttle will be called `the rear side; toward the point of the shuttle at the eye end is out and the end cf the threader toward the bobbin or cop retaining chamber of the shuttle is the innel end. Hence, forward is toward the front side; rearward is toward the rear side; inward is toward the shuttle chamber; and outward is toward the point of the shuttle at its eye end.

The threader is composed of/ two cast metal blocks A and B, preferably of brass.

The two blocks are adapted to lit each other and are maintained in proper longitudinal relation by means of a projecting pin o on the front block A` which tits in a hole Z) ,in the rear block B. Each block has a semicircular stud C on its bottom ywhich matches a corresponding stud on the other block. When the two blocks are locked together these studs form a circular downwardly projecting stud which lits in an aperture c at the bottom of the chamber D in the shuttle body into which the i'nterlocked blocks tit. Each of the blocks has a transverse aperture (Z therein. These apertures d of the two blocks register with each other when the blocks are interlocked, and through them threader consisting of the two blocks) with the shuttle. Thebolt E engages' a nut F in a recess in the rear of the shuttle in the usual manner as shown in Fig. 2.

When the threader composed of the two interlocked blocks is in position in the shuttle, resents various characteristics in common th that of the shuttle 'of United States Lettersv Patent to Northrop No. 769,914, September 13, 1901i. The thread is directed' by the curved faces at the tops of the. blocks into a longitudinal thread passage P between the mating faces of the two blocks and underneath the beak Giatt-he outer end of the threader as theshuttle travels inwardly and away froml the-replenishing side of the loom. Then..l1en the shuttle travels in the opposite direction lwith the eye endv leading, the thread is to prevent the accidental outward escape of aiding in interlocking the two blocks to-` gether and maintaining them in accurate pogoidod downwardly by aio downwardly and inwardlyextending horn H (see Fig. 7) and beneath the depending toe I thereof, into K at `the rear overhangs the outer end of the beak G. At the inner end of the threader is a rearwardly extending guard L (Fig. 6) overhanging the thread passage to aid in maintaining the thread in place. This guard has an outwardly extending hook or leader M, which serves to catch the thread and carry it forward on the flight of the shuttle' toward the replenishing end of the loom in case the thread on its previous flight hasfailed to get below the beak G. The block A carries a' downwardly extending and inwardly inclined metallic snubbing post N 4around whichithe thread renders in passing from the threading passage P into the eye of the shuttle, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. The outer and inner margins of the shuttle eye J are protected by snubbing posts O, O,

. which are of metal (but may be of porcelain or other vitreous material) around which the thread renders when the shuttle travels to and fro.

In all of the respects thus far described the threader is similar prior structures, and in the main is like that set forth in the aforesaid Northrop Patent No. 769,914, excepting that the threader is made in two blocks instead of one, and excepting the pror visions which are peculiar to the two block construction. Tn the former one part threader, the depending toe l of the horn H, the overlapping of the beak G and the guard K together with the extension of both across the thread passage, and the overhanging of the guard G and the inner guard L across the thread passage were relied upon the thread. T11-spite of these precautionary features, the thread did escape with annoying frequency and it has been found impracticable in a threader cast in one piece to make complete provision against the escape of the thread. Accordingly, in order to further provide for maintaining the thread in place, the two part construction..hasbeen inv vented with its additional thread retainingl characteristics 'rho brook d has d longitudinal rib ,o 'Winoo'. fits into the corresponding groove f in the` block B, as, shown in Figs. 5,6 and `10, thus vsition with respect to'each other so thatthe narrow thread'slits are maintained of proper;

width. At about the middle of the height of the two blocks the main'1 longitudinal thread passage P, substantiallyycircular 'cross-f; 'section, fis constituted by`appropriate A mating t registering l.xeoesses in the, two

. waysloping walls of .the :W0

blocks A and B. The thread occupies this main thread ipassage. during i the.; normal working of thel shuttle, extending out from the outer end thereof across the snuhbing post N into the eye J of the shuttle. Itis important that the` thread shouldbe retained within this passage without danger of escaping, while `at the same time insuring the easy and automatic entrance of the thread thereinto.

As shown in Fig. 6, thethread at theinner end ofthe thre'ader ifsdirected by thel midway. sloping upper faces of the two lblocks into a narrow slot between the inner guardl L and an 4overhanging ledge Q on the block B. The thread enters through this narrow slot into an initial upper threadpassage R. This initial thread passage R- is 'separated from the main thread passage P by means of a rearwardly, downwardly and outwardly extending tongue S carried by theblock A which extends rearwardly and outwardly beyond a forwardly extending thread director T at the inner end of the block B. ThisI tongue and director T are separated from.,

each other by a narrow rearwardly and outwardly inclined throat shownY in Fig. 9,

which is suiiicient for the downward passage of the thread into the main thread passage P. Longitudinally midway of the length of the two threading blocks, the block B has a forwardly projecting rib U .vhich'closely approaches a rearwardly projecting rib V on the bloeit A leaving a narrow thread slit betweenl the thread passages R and P, as shown in Figs. 9- and 10, thus affording comn munication between the two thread passages for the thread. Above tlie rib U the block B has a thread deflector W which extends forwardly and nearer the middle than the point of the guard L and extending up and down across the plane thereof. This defied tor W inclines at its linner face, outwardly -awayI from; the point of the guard L, as shown in Fig: 8. The ledge Q., directorT, land deflector W, all extend crosswise of the shuttle from the same side of the threader; and the `'guard L, and tongue S', extend crosswiseiof theshuttle fremthe other side ot.

v the threadenf'lhe guaidvLf'and the tongue S, fare located, relatively'towthe length of guard and tongue'aret outside of .the ledge andvdirect'orand are inside of the deiiector.

l'The guard a'ndftongue extend crosswise sufficiently to overlap' thee ledge,v director and detlector that is to .sa asspecically illustrated, the free' ends'o" the guard zand tongue extend rearwardly ,beyondlthe' free. ends of the ledge, .direetQll llddeflector. L

When y the shuttle threads, the thread ist wie necedad-the, downwardly-ond mid`` usara:

into the initial thread passage R and then into'the mainthread passage P. On having gained this passage P, it is practically impossible for the thread to accidentally escape. The whirl of the thread as it leaves the bobbin, is in the direction of the arrow shown in the thread passage P in F ig. 6, so that during the traverse of the shuttle there is no danger of any escape of the thread. Then the shuttle stops, any upward jump of the thread against the tongue S cannotcase an escape because the tongue S is shielded by the director-T. If by any possible chance the thread could vaccidentally pass between the tongue S and the director T, it will find itself in the initi passage R and it will there be forced forwardly beneath the guard L by the forward bevel of the inner face of thedeflector W so that there can beI no upward escape from the initial thread passage R. Moreover, the likelihood of the thread escaping into this upper or initial thread passage R is minimized by the narrowness of the slit between the ribs U and V, as well as by the narrowness and inclination o'f the throat between the tongue S and director T, as shown in Fig. 9. If the thread gets into the initial thread passage R, it is not only forced under the guard L, by the Ideflector iV, but it is still further safeguarded by the narrowness of the slot between the guard L andthe overhanging director Q. Also, the upward escape of the thread is further rendered diliicult by the usual construction of the outer end of the threader, consisting of the downwardly inclining beak G, the overhanging guard K, and the depending toe I, of the horn H,

which extends below the middle of the eye J.

The effect of the entire construction is to effectively prevent unthreading.

The twoblocks are provided with corresponding hooks at their inner ends to retain a friction pad Y.

I claim:

1. An automatically threading shuttle having a slotted eye and a threader composed of two cast metal blocks located within a chamber in the shuttle, said blocks being. characterized by a '1na in longitudinal thread passage communicating at its outer end with the thread eye, an initial thread passage above the main passage, longitudinal ribs, U, V, on. the two threader blocks respectively projecting toward each other between the two thread passages and hai.7- ing a narrow longitudinal slit between them affording communication between the two thread passages, a tongue S, extending rearwardly and outwardly from the inner end of the front block between the said thread passages, a thread director T, extending forwardly from the inner end of the rea r block between the two thread passages leavinga narrow rearwardly and outwardly inclined block above the initial thread passage, a

ledge Q brojecting forwardly from the rear block above said guard leaving a narrow slot between it and said guard aifordingan entrance to said initial thread passage, a thread deflector lV, projecting forwardly from the rear block part way across the initial thread passage and 'beyond the outer end of said guard L, a beak G, extending rearwardly from the outer. end of the front block above the initial thread passage, a guard K, extending forwardly from the rear block and over-hanging said beak with a thread space between, and a horn H, extending downwardly and inwardly from said beak and having a depending toeiI, extending below the middle of the thread eye and outward thereof.

2. An automatically threading shuttle having a slotted eye and a threader composed of two cast metal blocks located with in a chamber in a. shuttle, said blocks being characterized by 'a `main longitudinal thread passage communicating at its outer end with the thread eye, an initial thread passage above the main passage, longitudinalribs on the two threader blocks respectively projecting toward each other between the two thread passages and having a narrow longitudinal slit between them affording comnunication between the two thread passag-s` a, tongue extending rearwardly and outwardly from kthe inner end of the front block between the said thread passages, athread director extending forwardly from the inner end of the rear block between the two thread passages leaving a narrow rearwardly and outwardly inclined throat between it and said tongue affordingcommunication between said thread passages, a guard ex tending outwardly and rearwardly from the inn-er end of the front block above the initial thread passage, a ledge projecting forwardly from the rear block above said guard leaving a narrow slot between it and said guard affording an entrance to said initial thread passage,A and a thread deflector. projecting forwardly from the rear block part way across the initial thread passage and beyond the outer end of said guard.-

3. An automatically threading shuttle having a. threader characterized by a main longitudinal thread passage communicating at its outer end with the thread eyean initial thread passage above the main passage, longitudinal ribs projecting toward each other between the two thread 1aassages and having-al narrow longitudinal slit between them affording communication between the two thread passages, a tongue extending` rearwardly and outwardly from the front`v longitudinal thread passage communicating at its outer end with the thread eye, an

sages initial thread passage above the main passage, a tongue extending crosswise between the said thread passages, a thread director extending crosswise between said thread passages leaving a narrow rearwardly and outwardly inclined throat between it and said tongue affording communication between said thread passages, a guard extending crosswise above the initial thread lpassage, a ledge projecting crosswise above said guard leavingv a narrow slot between it and said guard affording an entrance to said initial thread passage, and a thread delector projecting from the same side as said director and ledge part way across the initial thread passage and beyond the end of said guard, said tongue and guard being located (with respect to the length of said thread passages) between said director and ledge on the one hand and said deflector on the other, and vsaid tongue and guard overlapping said director, ledge and defiector. 10. An automatically threading shuttle having a threader characterized by a main longitudinal thread passage communicating at its outer end with the thread eye, an initial thread passage above the main passage, a tongue extending crosswise between the saidl thread passages, a thread director extendin crosswise between said thread paseaving a narrow throat between it and said tongue affording 'communication signed my name in the between said thread. passages, and a thread deector projecting 'from the same side as said director part .way across the initial thread passage, said tongue being located (with respect to the length lof saidthread passages) between and, overlapping s'aid director and deflector.

11. An automatically threading shuttle Y said thread passages, a' guard extending crosswise above the initial thread passage,

and a thread deflector projecting from the.

same side as said director part way across the initial thread passage and beyond the guard end of said guard, said tongue and being located (with respect to the length of said threadl passages) between and overlapping said director and delector.'

In witness whereof, I have hereunto presence of 'two subscribing witnesses.

ALONZO E. RHOADES.

Witnesses:

FRANK H. FRnNcH, DANA Oseoon. 

